Steaming device for ironers



Dec. 20, 1960 J. G. BALDWIN 2,964,865

STEAMING DEVICE FOR IRONERS Filed May 28, 1958 INVENTOR Jerome & fia/dw/h BY ROW ATTORNEY 2,964,865 STEAMING DEVICE FOR IRONERS Jerome G. Baldwin, 708 Watson, St. Paul, Minn.

Filed May 28, 1958, Ser. No. 738,509 1 Claim. (Cl. sss This invention relates to an improvement in steaming device for ironers and deals particularly with an apparatus which may be attached to an ironer or incorporated in an ironer for steaming the fabric being ironed.

During recent years steam irons have become very popular. These irons include. a small water compartment which is heated to develop steam under pressure. This steam is-directed through certain jets on the face of the iron against the fabric being pressed. Numerous attempts have been made to provide a similar apparatus on ironers of the type which employ a fixed arcuate heated shoe and a driven roller which cooperates with the shoe to press the fabric between the shoe and the roller. Most of the devices with which I am familiar have not operated very satisfactorily for one reason or another. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steam system on an ironer of this type which does not have the difliculties of the previous systems with which I am familiar.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a steam generating boiler which is capable of delivering steam under pressure to one or more elongated manifolds. These manifolds are provided with spaced jets through which steam may be forced. The manifolds are mounted on the ironer at the juncture between the leading edge of the fixed shoe and the work table. Ironers of the type in question are provided with a narrow space between the work table and the shoe. The jets of steam pass through this narrow space and enter the fabric just before the fabric passes onto the heated shoe. As a result, the fabric is effectively steamed just before the start of the ironing operation.

A feature of the present invention resides in the particular location of the steam manifolds relative to the work table or forming board and the heated shoe. Because of the fact that a small space or gap is provided between the forming board and the shoe, the apparatus can be readily attached to ironers as an accessory thereto. The manifolds preferably comprise small diameter tubing which fits closely adjacent to the gap between the forming board and the shoe with the steam apertures directed toward the gap. As the forming board is usually pivotally supported, the manifolds can be readily attached without materially modifying the construction of the ironer. The manifold is connected to the steam generator by tubing which preferably may be bent to fit the installation. Valves are provided for regulating the steam pressure so that greater pressure may be employed for steaming heavier weights of cloth. A control valve is provided in the connection which may be operated to turn off and on the steam supply. This control valve is preferably electrically operated by a foot pedal switch so that the operator may turn on the steam when it is required and turn the steam ofi as the cloth passes over the forming board and onto the heated shoe.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claim.

3 United States Pa ent In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of the undersurface of a forming board and heating shoe showing the relationship between these parts and the padded roll and showing the steam manifolds mounted thereupon.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view through a portion of the ironer showing the relationship of parts.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the steam system and electrical system which is used.

The ironer illustrated is a popular make of apparatus which is widely used at the present time. As illustrated in Figure 1, the ironer includes a supporting base 10 upon which is mounted suitable castings such as 11 to which is attached an elongated shoe support 12. A shield 13 of relatively non conductive material lies outwardly of the shoe support 12 to protect the operator from contacting the heated surface of the shoe support. The shoe support 12 supports the shoe 14 which is provided with a concave upper surface 15 and which is normally heated by heating elements such as 16.

The base or table 10 also supports a bearing 17 which rotatably supports transversely extending roll support assembly 19. Hollow arms 20 are mounted at opposite ends of the pivot shaft assembly 19 and enclose drive pivot shaft assemb.y 19 to the shaft of the padded roll 21. A motor is provided to drive through suitable gearing in the hollow bearing member 17 to the drive shaft to rotate the roller 21. Means are also provided for swinging the roll 21 against the shoe 15. In view of the fact that this construction is conventional, the detail structure is not illustrated.

The casting 11 also provides a means for pivotally supporting a forming board 22. As is indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the forming board 22 has an edge 23 which is spaced slightly from the adjoining edge of the shoe 15. As a result, a gap 24 is provided between the forming board and the shoe which is of suflicient width to permit the jets of steam to pass therethrough.

The steaming attachment includes a steam generator 25 which normally includes an inner liner of stainless steel, an outer covering of similar material, and a body of insulation therebetween. As is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, a heating element 26 of nickel and copper is provided in the generating cylinder which is energized by electric current which is illustrated as being supplied by conductors at opposite ends of the unit. The generator 25 is provided with a filling cap 27 which may be removed to permit the tank to be filled and is also provided with an outlet connection 29 connected to a steam conduit 30. The conduit 30 connects the steam generator to a pressure regulator valve 31 which controls the current to the heating element 26. As indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the valve 31 is interposed in the path of steam flowing through the conduit 30 and acts to control a switch 32. One line wire 33 may be connected directly to the heating element 26 while the other line wire 34 is connected to the other terminal of the heating element 26 through the switch 32. When the pressure within the generator is below a predetermined minimum, the pressure regulator valve 31 acts to close the switch 32. When the pressure builds up to a predetermined pressure, the valve 31 opens the switch 32 thus breaking the circuit to the heating elements so that the generation of steam is discontinued until the pressure drops to a predetermined level.

A conduit 35 connects the pressure regulating valve to the control valve 36 which is preferably a solenoid valve provided with an operating solenoid 37. One terminal of a foot controlled switch 39 is connected by conductor 40 to the line wire 33 while the other terminal of the switch 39 is connected by a conductor 41 to the solenoid coil 37. The second terminal of the solenoid coil 37 is connected by a conductor 42 to thesecond line wire 34 thus completing the circuit when the switch 39 is closed. By operating the foot actuated switch 39, the solenoid coil 37 may be energized to open the valves and to permit steam to pass.

The valve 36 is connected by the conduit 43- to a selector control valve 44 which meters the steam flowing through the valve to regulate the pressure of the steam passing therethrough. The outlet of the valve is connected to two conduits 43 and 44 which communicate with longitudinally aligned manifolds 47 and 49, respectively. These manifolds are supported beneath the gap between the forming board 22 and the shoe 14, in axially aligned relation as shown. The steam openings 50 are directed toward the gap 24 and between the forming board and the shoe. As is also indicated, the heating element continues in operation until the required steam pressure is provided in the generator 25 at which time the pressure regulator valve opens the switch 32.

The knob 51 of the selector valve 44 is operated to provide the proper steam pressure at the steam manifolds depending upon the thickness and nature of the cloth being ironed. The cloth is then moved over the forming board 22 and onto the heated shoe 15. As the cloth moves over the gap 24, the foot switch 39 is actuated permitting steam to flow into the steam manifold and be forced through the small openings 50 and through the gap 24 against the undersurface of the cloth to be ironed. The cloth moves between the roller 21 and the shoe 14 and is ironed in the normal manner.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have detherebetween, the accessory including a pair of axially aligned steam manifold means secured beneath the adjacent edges of said forming board and shoe and having outlet apertures therein directed toward said gap, a steam generator having an electric heating element therein, conduit means connecting said generator to said manifold means, a pressure regulating valve in said conduit means, a power circuit to said heating element controlled by said valve, a solenoid valve also in said conduit, and means for energizing said solenoid valve to supply steam to said manifold means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,646,746 Carroll Oct. 25, 1927 1,931,190 Goughnour Oct. 17, 1933 1,978,654 Strachan Oct. 30, 1934 2,288,778 Bradley July 7, 1942 2,706,240 Hackman Apr. 12, 1955 2,718,218 Gray Sept. 20, 1955 2,805,009 Jackson H Sept. 3, 1957 

